El día de Reyes / Los días de Reyes / Santos Reyes [Magos]

Senior Member

As the Anglo-Saxon culture lacks the celebration of 'Los Reyes Magos' within the Christmas context, I was wondering which the better way for referring to it would be. I've heard several options and I'm not sure which is the right one.

1. The Three Kings' Day
2. The Three Wise Men's Day
3. Epiphany's Day
4. The Twelfht Night's Day

As far as I know, I think the best way for addressing to the three people as biblical characters is 'The Three Wise Men', but no idea about the feast.

On the other hand, the day before that day we also celebrate 'El Roscón de Reyes'. Could it be, for example, 'TheThree Wise Men's Day's Eve', as 'Christmas Eve' is for 'Nochebuena'.

Senior Member

Hi Magg!
What is the context you are referring to it in? Can't you just use the Spanish words (and explain what they mean)?
I think it's referred to on calenders as Epiphany (but not many Brits would know what that really was! ) and as 12th night (the only real significance being when you have to have your Christmas decorations down! ). I didn't know the Roscón de Reyes was the day before. I wouldn't, personally, call it anything-eve.
Hope this helps, I have to go, the gas man is here!
Philippa
P.S. In the Bible there are only 3 gifts and not necessarily 3 kings!

Senior Member

Sorry Philippa, you're right. I took for granted you had a slight idea about 'Los Reyes Magos'. It's nothing against you but it makes me think that we Spanish know much more about other national festivities than others do. At least I know when the Independence Day, is Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Guy Fawkes, etc.... It was just a thought.

On 'El día de Reyes' we celebrate the day the Three Wise Men visited Baby Jesus briging him presents. So parents give presents to their children as you do on Christmas Day. The day before (5 January) is when the TWM are supposed to leave presents in houses during the night and there are big parades all over the country. Even the national TV broadacasts one of these parades in an important 'provincia' each year. It's called 'La cabalgata de Reyes'.

The good thing is that we have also adopted the Anglo-Saxon celebration (Father Christmas) and children in Spain are really lucky because the're given presents twice, and don't go back to school until 7 January.

Senior Member

Sorry Philippa, you're right. I took for granted you had a slight idea about 'Los Reyes Magos' It's nothing against you but it makes me think that we Spanish know much more about other national festivities than others do. At least I know when's the Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Guy Fawkes, etc.... It was just a thought.

In 'El día de Reyes' we celebrate the day the Three Wise Men visited Baby Jesus briging him presents. So parents give presents to their children as you do on Christmas Day. The day before (5 January) is when the TWM are supposed to leave presents in houses during the night and there are big parades all over the country. Even the national TV broadacasts one of these parades in an important 'provincia' each year. It's called 'La cabalgata de Reyes'.

The good thing is that we have also adopted the Anglo-Saxon celebration (Father Christmas) and children in Spain are really lucky because the're given presents twice, and don't go back to school until 7 January.

Hey, I do have a slight idea about it!! (We had a whole lesson on Spanish Christmas customs last year in my evening class.) In the magazine I read in Mallorca it said that in 83% of households it's the Reyes Magos bringing presents and 17% it's Santa. Actually it didn't have a catergory for both!!!

Senior Member

Hey, I do have a slight idea about it!! (We had a whole lesson on Spanish Christmas customs last year in my evening class.) In the magazine I read in Mallorca it said that in 83% of households it's the Reyes Magos bringing presents and 17% it's Santa. Actually it didn't have a catergory for both!!!

Your little faces in your post make me guess you didn't take offense at it. Even so, please, believe me when I say that it was a general thought, nothing to do with you personally. I'm glad to see you were taught about it.

Banned

As the Anglo-Saxon culture lacks the celebration of 'Los Reyes Magos' within the Christmas context, I was wondering which the better way for referring to it would be. I've heard several options and I'm not sure which is the right one.

Epiphany is a well known celebration in any culture within the Christmas context, including England, Germany, US,Canada and does not "lack" .
Some countries have chosen to emphasise the story of the wise men (by the way there is no proof they where three, could have been 2,4,7?) over the real reason for epiphany, that is the presentation of the baby in public.

In the Christian church, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is a celebration of the presentation of the infant Jesus and the post-childbirth purification of Mary in the Temple, in accordance with Jewish law. The Greek Church calls it Hypapante ("Meeting") in reference to Jesus' meeting there with Simeon, to whom it had been revealed that he would not die before meeting the Messiah. The festival of the Presentation is first documented in Jerusalem in the late 4th century; the custom of observing it with lighted candles (the source of the name Candlemas) dates to at least the mid-5th century.

So Epiphany is Epiphany, in Spain as anywere else. In Spain you choose to tell the story of the wise men on Epiphany, in other countries the 4 wise men take the place they deserve, that is very little mention back stage.

So, to your question, how to call the day of Epiphany?
Well I think Epiphany is a good choice. Little mention of the 5 wise men?
Even better!

Senior Member

As the Anglo-Saxon culture lacks the celebration of 'Los Reyes Magos' within the Christmas context, I was wondering which the better way for referring to it would be. I've heard several options and I'm not sure which is the right one.

1. The Three Kings' Day
2. The Three Wise Men's Day
3. Epiphany's Day
4. The Twelfht Night's Day

As far as I know, I think the best way for addressing to the three people as biblical characters is 'The Three Wise Men', but no idea about the feast.

"Anglo-Saxon culture" was knocked on the head by William the Conqueror over 900 years ago when the invading Normans killed the last Anglo-Saxon king at the Battle of Hastings in A.D. 1066.

If what you are asking is, as I guess, what is the best way to refer in English to the Feast of the Epiphany as celebrated in Spain, why not do as Philippa suggested and just keep it in Spanish, together with whatever explanation you might wish or feel the need to add.

I disagree with the BBC, however, when it claims 6 January to be the date of Twelfth Night. To me, the twelfth night of Christmas is the evening of 5 January, the Eve of the Epiphany. The fact that confusion reigns about the exact date of Twelfth Night just goes to show what a sadly moribund state some of the old traditions are in. All that many people seem to think about in the first week of January is the sales.

BTW, the Three Kings can be called that, more commonly perhaps the Three Wise Men, less often the Magi.

Senior Member

Senior Member

In Spain and Argentina and other countries can be quite common. In Chile virtually none celebrates the day. In english it is called by the name of the Christian holiday, Epiphany day. More information:

In Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and some other Latin American countries Epiphany day is called El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings). The day when a group of Kings or Magi of the Bible arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. This day is sometimes known as the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Magi) or La Pascua de los Negros (Holy Day of the Blackmen) in Chile, although the latter is rarely heard. In Spanish tradition, on the day of January 6th, three of the Kings: Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus.

Member

Senior Member

In Mexico, in the Christian (other than Catholic) context, no Epiphany celebration is held. The celebration of "revelation of God to mankind in human form" is held on the 25th of December.
On the other hand, "Día de Reyes" is a major day in Mexico (see http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reyes_magos for more information), specially for children (lots of toys and gifts are received).
We, in Mexico, use the expression "Felíz día de Reyes." I thought all Spanish speaking counties celebrated this day, but I'm learning not all of them do.
Hope the information helps; it has helped me already.

Member

In Colombia we say "Feliz Dia de Reyes" on January 6th.
And it refers to "Reyes Magos = Three Wise Men"
It is a major day where people gives gifts to children
(I know that most of people give gifts on this day because they couldnt afford it in December 24 or 25).

New Member

I live in the north of Mexico (sonora) and we don´t exactly celebrate DIA DE REYES, we celebrate christmas in Dec 25th, in the three wise men´s day, we just eat ROSCA DE REYES, its a bread like a donut (KINGCAKE maybe), but it is a normal day for us!!! Its more traditional in the south of the country, although I´d like to celebrate it!!!

Senior Member

In Colombia we say "Feliz Dia de Reyes" on January 6th.
And it refers to "Reyes Magos = Three Wise Men"
It is a major day where people gives gifts to children
(I know that most of people give gifts on this day because they couldnt afford it in December 24 or 25).